GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardized test undertaken by students wanting to enrol in a graduate program abroad. The GRE examination is conducted by the Educational Testing Service or the ETS. The GRE test scores are accepted by more than 90 countries around the world. A good GRE score is needed to secure admission to one of the top universities abroad. Particularly, those who want to get into Ivy League institutions require a good GRE score. However, the score requirement varies on the basis of the university. Therefore, in this article, we have provided the GRE score requirements for top universities abroad.
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GRE Scoring Scheme
GRE scores are measured on a scale of 130-170 in 1-point increments. This is true for both the quantitative and verbal reasoning parts. On the other hand, the analytical reasoning is measured between 0-6 in half-point increments. The total scores of these sections are added to generate the overall score secured by a candidate. However, the analytical writing scores are not included in the overall score but are provided separately. The 3 main sections analyzed by GRE are as follows. Do note that the GRE score requirements for top universities vary.
- GRE quantitative reasoning (130-170 score scale)
- GRE verbal (130-170 score scale)
- GRE Analytical Writing (0-5 score scale)
Also Read: GRE Exam 2023: New Guideline, Date, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern
GRE Score Range
The GRE Score range required for the best universities varies on the basis of the program. However, the average GRE scores can range between 147-170 on Verbal and Quantitative with the average in the 160s for some of the best programs. However, we have provided the general GRE cut-off for several universities.
GRE Score Ranges based on Performance | GRE Quantitative Reasoning | GRE Verbal Reasoning | GRE Analytical Writing Assessment |
Best GRE Score Range | 165 to 170 | 163 to 170 | 5.0 to 6.0 |
Competitive GRE Score Range | 159 to 164 | 158 to 162 | 4.5 |
Good GRE Score Range | 153 to 158 | 152 to 158 | 4.0 |
Average GRE Score Range | 150 to 153 | 146 to 150 | 3.5 |
Poor GRE Score Range | Below 141 | Below 139 | Below 3.0 |
Scores By School: GRE Ranges for Top Universities
The GRE ranges vary depending on the subject a student has taken up. We have provided a general GRE range for the top universities for students planning to enrol in a graduate program abroad.
UNIVERSITY | AVERAGE QUANTITATIVE RANGE | AVERAGE VERBAL RANGE |
MIT | 162-170 | 158-164 |
Harvard University | 158-170 | 155-164 |
Cornell University | 153-170 | 157-164 |
Columbia University | 153-170 | 155-164 |
New York University | 150-166 | 154-161 |
Princeton | 156-170 | 158-164 |
Stanford University | 156-170 | 158-164 |
UC Berkeley | 155-170 | 157-164 |
University of Pennsylvania | 150-170 | 154-164 |
UCLA | 154-170 | 155-164 |
University of Southern California | 147-166 | 151-161 |
Yale University | 158-170 | 158-164 |
Harvard GRE Scores
PROGRAM | US NEWS RANK | ESTIMATED QUANTITATIVE RANGE | ESTIMATED VERBAL RANGE |
Economics | 1 | 169-173 | 160-164 |
Biological Sciences | 1 | 160-164 | 158-162 |
Computer Science | 17 | 164-168 | 158-152 |
Chemistry | 4 | 158-162 | 164-168 |
Earth Sciences | 9 | 159-163 | 159-163 |
English | 3 | 157-161 | 162-166 |
History | 9 | 156-160 | 161-165 |
Physics | 3 | 168-170 | 161-165 |
Mathematics | 3 | 170 | 159-163 |
Political Science | 2 | 161-165 | 162-166 |
Psychology | 3 | 156-160 | 157-161 |
Public Administration | 3 | 159-163 | 159-163 |
Sociology | 2 | 158-162 | 159-163 |
Stanford GRE Scores
PROGRAM | US NEWS RANK | ESTIMATED QUANTITATIVE RANGE | ESTIMATED VERBAL RANGE |
Economics | 1 | 160-164 | 158-162 |
Biological Sciences | 1 | 160-164 | 158-162 |
Computer Science | 1 | 169-170 | 156-160 |
Chemistry | 4 | 164-168 | 158-162 |
Earth Sciences | 4 | 161-165 | 159-163 |
English | 3 | 157-161 | 162-166 |
History | 5 | 151-155 | 156-160 |
Physics | 1 | 168-170 | 161-165 |
Mathematics | 3 | 170 | 159-163 |
Political Science | 1 | 161-165 | 162-166 |
Psychology | 1 | 156-160 | 157-161 |
Fine Arts | 32 | 154-158 | 159-163 |
Sociology | 5 | 158-162 | 159-163 |
MIT GRE Scores
PROGRAM | US NEWS RANK | ESTIMATED QUANTITATIVE RANGE | ESTIMATED VERBAL RANGE |
Economics | 1 | 169-170 | 160-164 |
Biological Sciences | 3 | 160-164 | 158-162 |
Computer Science | 1 | 169-170 | 156-160 |
Chemistry | 1 | 164-168 | 158-162 |
Earth Sciences | 2 | 161-165 | 159-164 |
Physics | 1 | 168-170 | 161-165 |
Mathematics | 1 | 170 | 159-163 |
Political Science | 7 | 161-165 | 162-166 |
Psychology | 8 | 156-160 | 157-161 |
Also Read: 10 Most Employable Degrees 2023
UC Berkeley GRE Scores
PROGRAM | US NEWS RANK | ESTIMATED QUANTITATIVE RANGE | ESTIMATED VERBAL RANGE |
Economics | 4 | 169-170 | 160-164 |
Biological Sciences | 3 | 160-164 | 158-162 |
Computer Science | 1 | 169-170 | 156-160 |
Chemistry | 1 | 164-168 | 158-162 |
Earth Sciences | 3 | 161-165 | 159-163 |
English | 1 | 157-161 | 162-166 |
History | 1 | 156-160 | 161-165 |
Physics | 3 | 168-170 | 161-165 |
Mathematics | 3 | 170 | 159-163 |
Political Science | 4 | 161-165 | 162-166 |
Psychology | 1 | 156-160 | 157-161 |
Public Administration | 4 | 159-163 | 159-163 |
Social work | 5 | 153-157 | 155-159 |
Sociology | 1 | 158-162 | 159-163 |
Princeton GRE Scores
PROGRAM | US NEWS RANK | ESTIMATED QUANTITATIVE RANGE | ESTIMATED VERBAL RANGE |
Economics | 4 | 169-170 | 160-164 |
Biological Sciences | 6 | 158-162 | 160-164 |
Computer Science | 8 | 169-170 | 156-160 |
Chemistry | 7 | 164-168 | 158-162 |
Earth Sciences | 9 | 161-165 | 159-163 |
English | 3 | 157-161 | 162-166 |
History | 2 | 156-160 | 161-165 |
Physics | 3 | 168-170 | 161-165 |
Mathematics | 1 | 170 | 159-163 |
Political Science | 2 | 161-165 | 162-166 |
Psychology | 6 | 156-160 | 157-161 |
Public Administration | 10 | 154-158 | 156-160 |
Sociology | 2 | 158-162 | 159-163 |
Takeaways: GRE Scores for Top Universities
Here are the top five key takeaways regarding the key GRE scores for top universities. Students must be aware of these few points while checking out the GRE scores.
- The GRE scores of each school vary on the basis of the department
- A decent GRE score is generally above the 50th percentile scores of the students who have received admission to the university
- The GRE rankings reflect how competitive a program actually is
- A great GRE score can help students get scholarship money and enrollment in the best universities
- GRE is not the only admission criterion. In fact, it is part of the admissions process. There are other eligibility criteria that a student must meet. For example, LOR, academic transcripts, personal statements, and work experience.
Also Read: GMAT to GRE Conversion
FAQs
A GRE score of 325 or above is required for admission into the top universities of the world. Hence, students wanting admission into the top schools must obtain high GRE scores
A good GRE score is 320. GRE is one of the most popular examinations students take to enrol in graduate programs. A GRE score is widely accepted by universities abroad. For example, the scores are accepted for law and business schools
GRE scores for Ivy League colleges range from 155 to 166 for Verbal reasoning. For quantitative reasoning, a score of 155 to 170 is required. Several programs require a GRE score in the 160s or the top 10-15 percentile.
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